New Feature in PlanoHero — Master Position

A new feature has been added to PlanoHero that simplifies the work for both planogram specialists and store staff - the Master Position. This update makes it easier to manage a wide product assortment without overloading the planogram and speeds up the planning and shelf execution process.

Stores often carry hundreds of products within a single category, similar in characteristics but different in details such as color, size, design, or packaging. For example, mugs in different colors, phone accessories, or the same phone model in different colors.

Previously, planogram specialists had to manually add each individual SKU to the planogram or use grouped blocks. Now, the process is much easier, thanks to the new Master Position feature.

What is a Master Position?

A Master Position is a tool for grouping similar products into a single placeholder on the planogram. This feature allows you to group products under one master position by category, brand, or a selected characteristic such as color, size, or packaging.

This way, you can manage an entire product set as one logical block.

You can create a master position based on:

• Category (e.g., “mugs,” “shampoos”).

• Brand (entire product lines from one brand).

• Product characteristics (color, size, volume, packaging type).

• Or a custom-defined parameter.

In PlanoHero, a single master position can include up to 1,000 products, making it significantly easier to work with a broad assortment, especially in large retail stores.

Master Position: What Types of Stores Benefit from It

This feature is especially relevant for retail chains with a large number of SKUs and frequently changing assortments, where it’s important to maintain flexibility in product placement without compromising standardized layouts.

Stores with a wide range of similar products

Example: home goods, household chemicals, tableware stores

Why it’s convenient: These stores often offer many items within the same category (e.g., sponges, napkins, mugs) that differ only in color, shape, or packaging. The Master Position feature lets you group these products together, eliminating the need to add each one individually.

Electronics and mobile accessories stores

Why it’s convenient: A planogram specialist can create a master position for a single phone model, and in-store staff can place the available variation (e.g., color, memory size). The same applies to phone cases, chargers, or headphones—one position in the planogram, several options on the shelf.

Clothing and footwear stores

Why it’s convenient: Products like t-shirts or sneakers come in multiple sizes, colors, and designs. Grouping them under a Master Position helps save time when creating planograms and simplifies store-level execution.

Cosmetics and fragrance stores

Why it’s convenient: One product might come in dozens of shades, volumes, or packaging designs. Lipsticks, creams, or perfumes can be displayed as a single position in the planogram while offering multiple available variations in-store.

Children’s goods and toy stores

Why it’s convenient: A single toy model might come in many colors, functionality, or theme variants. The Master Position feature allows stores to adapt the display based on stock availability.

Souvenir and gift shops

Why it’s convenient: These stores often carry numerous small, similar items- postcards, figurines, magnets, notebooks -that can be easily grouped for a more logical and unified display strategy.

How the Master Position Feature Works in PlanoHero

For the planogram specialist:

• The planogrammer creates a master position, for example, "Mugs."

• They add a list of products that can be placed under this master position (e.g., mugs in various colors and sizes).

• They set priorities by indicating which products should be displayed first, if available.

• The master position is placed on the planogram like a regular product item.

• When creating the layout, the planogrammer selects a master position rather than a specific product.

• The planogram is then sent to the stores for execution.

For the store manager:

• The manager receives the planogram with master positions via the mobile app or web version.

• They view the full list of products associated with each master position, including priority indicators.

• The manager completes the display by selecting available products from the list, following the set priorities.

There is also an option to download the planogram with the full list of products for placement.

What the Master Position Feature Looks Like in PlanoHero planogram software

Example: Creating a Master Position for the “Energy Drinks” category in PlanoHero.

Selecting SKUs to create a list of energy drinks for the master position.

Setting up the created master position, Energy Shot.

Benefits of the Master Position Feature

Minimal manual work 

Instead of adding each SKU manually, one master position is enough. All mugs, bottles, or T-shirts with different characteristics are grouped into a single master position on the planogram.

Flexible shelf execution in stores

The store manager selects which product to display from the available assortment. The layout adapts to actual stock without losing standardization.

Faster placement – fewer errors

No need to search for an exact SKU among hundreds of items. Instead, there's one object on the planogram containing all product variations.

Unified display logic across the entire retail chain

Master position helps standardize product placement across different stores. Even with varying stock levels, stores follow a consistent layout principle.

Improved stock management

Priority settings in the master position list allow important products to be placed first. If something is out of stock, replacement options are already built into the planogram logic.

Who Should Use the Master Position Feature?

• Retailers with a wide assortment within a category

If you have dozens of variations of the same product, the master position helps avoid duplication and saves time.

• Stores with frequently changing inventory

The master position maintains display logic even when some items are out of stock.

• Teams aiming to automate planogramming and reduce human error

The new Master Position feature is now available in PlanoHero!

Use this tool to save time, reduce errors, and improve your shelf planning and execution processes.